Ben Shelton defeats Carlos Alcaraz in five-set match at US Open

At 3:33 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Ben Shelton completed a five-set match against Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open, winning 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7). The match lasted four hours and 28 minutes, making it one of the latest in US Open history. Shelton, seeded eighth, knocked out the seven-time major champion Alcaraz, who had previously won the tournament twice and dropped only one set in his first four matches of the tournament. Shelton will face Frances Tiafoe in the semifinal on Friday, ensuring that an American male will compete in the US Open final for the second time in three years and the third time in 20 years. Shelton expressed gratitude for the crowd's support, stating, "For me it’s always about the people in the crowd... every single New Yorker showing up here tonight at 3 am with the USA chants until the very end." He demonstrated strong baseline coverage and effective point control throughout the match. The match featured a tense fifth set that ultimately went to a tiebreak, where Shelton secured his victory. This win positions Shelton as a potential face of American men's tennis, a role that has been vacant since Andy Roddick's retirement in 2003.